Sleep Disorders, Health, and Safety in Police Officers
Many police officers are at an even greater risk of these outcomes because they are often required to work overnight, on rotating shifts, or both.
Impaired cardiometabolic response are observed in healthy volunteers scheduled to eat and sleep out of phase from their habitual times, and night work greatly increases the risk of progression to diabetes.
These findings may at least in part explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in shift workers,in particular police officers.
We note, however, that although we adjusted our analysis for many of the possible variables that influence cardiovascular disease risk, behavioral factors such as physical activity and diet were not assessed and may also account for the observed increased risk.
If you are in EMS you should read this study. If you aren’t in EMS, but know people who are, this might explain some of their odd behavior.
I know very few people in police work or EMS who only work 40 hours, who only work day shifts, who don’t have screwy schedules, and who don’t have some medical problems related to work. A lot of people in EMS are overweight, and it’s not entirely because of poor diet. Lack of sleep means lack of energy, which means that it’s hard, really hard sometimes, to get your ass out of bed and on a treadmill, bike, elliptical, or even outside for a run. I know that I have to force myself to do that often and even at that my weight is not where I want it. I do however, feel much better when I can get out and ride or even ride on the incredibly boring stationary bike.
I think there are some valuable lessons in this study, although it would be much better for EMS if the authors would look at our work environment with an idea towards identifying and mitigating our risks.
Yeah.
The hospital I work for has a Sleep Disorder clinic. Its director has said that an individual has a genetic pre-disposition. If you aren’t a “night guy” you can do nothing to change it. You will never get used to working a night shift and your health will suffer.
Fortunately, our service does not allow a schedule of more than 40 hours a week, nor shifts greater than 12 hours. This does help mitigate the effects of working nights.
As for those overweight, I’ll strongly recommend a low carb diet and weight training that consumes a total of about 2 hours a week. I’m in my mid 50′s and weigh less now than I did in high school.
I think there is some truth to what the director says. It took me what seemed like a long time to get used to nights, but I mostly don’t mind it. I’ve finally hit on a sleep schedule that seems to work for me. Well, it works when I can stay on it, but since most of the world works on a day schedule there are days when I can’t.
As to exercise and diet, I’m on a low (but not no) carb diet and I ride a bike anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half 5 days a week. My doctor says not to obsess about weight because muscle weighs more than fat and it retains water, which fat doesn’t do. I have reduced my waist by three belt sizes since May 1, so I’m on the right track. An added benefit is that I can climb the typical for our city three flights of stairs without getting short of breath.